Vulcanizing clamp



Jan. 2, 1951 R. K. BoYER vULcANIzING cLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27, 1948 R R.E m Y NO m5 ,z

R. K. BOYER VULCANIZING CLAMP Jan. 2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1948 .R M5 R E Y mY. 0 ma MM 1m f Patented Jan. 2, 1951 VULCANIZING CLAM'P Ralph K. Boyer, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Dill Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application March 27, 1948, Serial No. 17,510

9 Claima i This invention relates to a vulcanizer clamp and particularly to a clamp to be used with an electrically heated vulcanizing unit that is separable from the clamp, although, of course, the clamp could be employed with other types of Vulcanizing devices.

An object of the invention is to provide a vulcanizer clamp which is so constructed that the pressures exerted by the clamping member upon the vulcanizing unit automatically vary in accordance with different Operating conditions, with the result that the clamping member will exert automatically when in operative position greater or lesser pressure on the vulcanizing unit depending upon the pressure required for a particular unit and a particular vulcanizing job.

Another and important object is to provide a vulcanizer clamp which is so constructed that only the proper pressure can be exerted by the clamping member on the Vulcanizing `unit and H the operator cannot operate the clamp so as to cause the clamping member to exert excessive or too great pressure on the unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vulcanizer clamp which is soiconstructed as to obviate any tendency for or possibility of the operator applying excessive force in the operation of the clamp and consequently removing the likelihood that the clamp might be damaged from improper operation.

Another object is to provide a Vulcanizer clamp which is so constructed that the operator in moving the clamping arm or member to operative position always moves the Operating handle to a predetermined position and cannot move the Operating handle to a position wherein the clamping arm or member would exert excessive pressure on the Vulcanizing unit.

Another object is to provide a vulcanizer clamp as referred to in the last named object and wherein the clamping arm or member automatically when moved to operative position exerts the requisite orproper pressure upon the vulcanizing unit, with such pressure varying in accordance with the requirements for different sized units.

A still further object is to provide a vulcanizer clamp 'which embodies an improved buffer plate construction and one wherein the buffer plate may be moved readily to an operative position or can be moved easily to an idle position wherein it is out of the way and will not nterfere with the vulcanizing operation.

Another object is to provide an improved and novel vulcanizer clamp which is compact, can be readily employed for Vulcanizing either plain 2 rubber'patches or the rubber bases of Valve stems to inner tubes or other rubber articles and which clamp is eilicient in operation.

A still further object is to provide a vulcanizer clamp of the type referred to in the preceding objects and which may be used with the ordinary commercial electric current or with current from storage batteries or other sources.

A still further object is to provide a Vulcanizing clamp as referred to in the preceding objects and which is so constructed that the clamp itself during the vulcanizing operation is in the electrical circuit with the electrical heating element in the vulcanizing unit employed with the clamp.

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore referred to will become apparent hereinafter during the following detailed description of an embodirnent of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a view, partly in sideelevation and partly in longitudinai section, of a clamp embodying the invention; the buifer plate and its supporting parts being shown by full lines in operative position and by dash lines in idle position, while the clamping arm or member is shown by full lines in fully lowered position wherein it is contacting the rubber pad of the vulcanizing table of the clamp and by dash lines inV fully raised position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar, to Fig. 1 and shows the clamping arm or member in fully lowered or operatve position but clampingly engaging a vulcanizing unit placed on a tire tube that is positioned on the vulcanizing table.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the clamping arm or member engaging a Vulcanizing unit of substantially larger size than the unit shown in Fig. 2 and used for vulcanizing a valve stem to a large size inner tube as, for example, an inner tube used in motor truck tires.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the clamp, certain portions being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fg. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing part of the buffer plate support.

Fig. 7 is a detached elevational view of the mounting plate or hinge member for the clamp arm, and

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the electrical circuit including the transformer and in the secondary circuit of which is located the Vulcanizing unit and the clamp.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the clamp is formed largely of sheet metal stampings and comprises a horizontal base or arm Ii which preferably is in the form of a downwardly facing channel the side legs of which are indicated at ll and IZ.

The base ii) at one end thereof, i. e., its left hand end as viewed in the drawing, has secured to its upper side a cup-like container i' in which is located a rubber pad M, it being understood that said container B3 and pad 14 constitute the vulcanizing table of the clamp.

The other end of the base w; i. e., the right hand end as viewed in the drawing, has secured to it an upstanding housing 15. This housing is narrower than the horizontal supporting arm or base Hi and is of substantially inverted U-shape in cross-section and preferably is formed of a drawn metal stamping. The housing i is provided on its lower free edges with tabs 36 that extend through suitable openings in the supporting arm or base and are bent over to secure the housing to the supporting arm or base or are welded thereto or are otherwise secured thereto.

The side walls of the housing 45 are provided with aligned openings in which is mounted a pivot pin H, the said pin extending outwardly of the housing a substantial distance to provide a stop portion Ha for the Operating handle of the clamp as will later be explained. The pivot pin i? extends through the aligned eyes E8 of a mounting or hinge plate spring has its coiled portion 2G mounted on the pin Ii' intermediate the eyes ii with the long eX- tended end 2i of the spring engaging the underside of the top of the housing and with the short extended end 22 of the spring bearing against the mounting plate [9. The pin i? at the portion which receives the spring coils 251 is provided with a cylindrical recess in which the spring coils are located and hence the rat trap spring functions to hold the pin against axial displacement with respect to the eyes IB of the mounting plate 19.

The clamping arm is formed of a lever 23 and va spring leaf 23a superimposed on the lever, with the spring leaf extending between the mounting or hinge plate i and the lever 23 at the right hand end thereof and being secured to said plate and lever, preferably by means of rivets extending through all three elements. The lever 23 has a wide portion 25 intermediate its ends and which extends inwardly of the housing to a point just inwardly of the pivot H. From this point the lever 23 reduces in width to its right hand end while the lever outwardly of the portion 25 diminishes in width gradually and uniformly to the point 26. This outer diminishing portion of the lever provides flexibility therein. From the point 26 to its left hand end the lever 23 gradually widens in width and said left hand end of the lever is in the form of a fork as indicated at 27 (Fig. 4) with the ends of the tines of the fork being Curved downwardly as indicated at 28. The spring leaf 23a has an inner portion which is complementary to the upper surface of the lever 23 while from just above the pivot il said `spring leaf diminishes gradually and uniformly in width to its outer end which is located at the outer end of the portion 25 of uniform width of the lever 23.

The clamping arm or lever 23 and spring leaf is while a rat trap 3 23a possess a desired and predetermined degree of fiexibility so that when the arm is pressed against a vulcanizing unit later to be explained it will have more or less spring fiexure between the fulcrum of the pin li and the outer end of the arm and will exert Varying degrees of pressures on the vulcanizing units employed in the clamp depending upon the thickness or size of the units and of the tire tubes or other articles to which a patch is being vulcanized.

The housing i has its side Walls provided with aligned openings in which is journaled a pin 3G, said pin projecting outwardly of the housing at one side to receive and have fixed thereto the hub of an Operating handle 3i. An operating cam 32 is fixed to the pin 39] within the housing i5 and has a flat low portion 32a and a curved camming portion, the high point of which is indicated at 32h. The underside of the clamping arm 23 is held at all times by the rat trap spring in engagement with the periphery of the cam 32.

It will be seen that when the hande 3i is rocked to bring the high point 32h of the cam in contact with the underside of the clamping arm or lever, said arm or lever is rocked'about the axis of the pin I? to lowered or operative position. At this time the Operating handle 3| will be in engagement with the extended stop portion Ha of the pin I'l, wherefore the operator,`

'f will know that the high point of the cam.32 has been brought into contact with the underside of the clamping arm. When the Operating handle ti is rocked in the opposite direction andzaway from the stop portion Ha of the pin H the flat surface 32a of the cam 32 will be brought into contact with the underside of the clamping arm and the rat trap spring will act to Vraise the clamping arm to the dash line or idle position shown in said Figure 1. 'The operator Acan tell by the feel of the movement of the Operating handle 3i when the -parts are in the dash line position of Fig. l.

A transformerhousing 33-preferably formed of sheet metal is securedto the underside of the ;o horizontal or base arm IG of the clamp andbeneath the housing |5. 'The transformer housing 33 may be secured to the arm IO by means of tabs passing through openings in the arm IE! and secured to the arm as by welding. A suitable transformer 34 is located in the housing 33 and the primary 35 of the transformer is connected by wires'36 and 31 to a connecting plug 33 whereby the transformer lmay be electrically connected to a suitable source of electrical eni ergy.

VThe secondary 39 of 'the 'transformer is `connected by a Wire 46 to a connecting clip M of the spring type and well known in -the art. A Wire 132 connects the other side ofithe secondary of 'the transformer to the clamp itself, wherefore the'clamp forms part of the secondary circuit. lIf desired, an electrically actuated signal may be included in the secondary circuit to Visually indicate When said Circuit is energized.

This signal may take the form of a solenoid, the

iWhile various types of vulcanizing unitsmay be employed in the clamp it is proposed to use a vulcanizing unit of the general type of that shown in Crowley Reissue Patent No. 21,230, dated October 10, 1939. This type of vulcanizing unit comprises a member 45 which contains the electrical heating element and has a contact tab 46 to which the spring connecting clip 4| can be connected. The vulcanizing unit also includes a metal disk member 41 carrying the vulcanizing patch 48 and in use the member 45 of the unit is superimposed upon the member 41. When the unit is placed on a tire tube or other article to which a patch is to be vulcanized and the clamping arm 23 is brought into contact with the upper side of the member 45 and the clip 4| is connected to the tab 46 then the electrical heating element of the unit is in the secondary circuit including the wire 40, the member 45, the clamping arm 23 and Wire 42.

As is well understood in the art, it is usually desirable and necessary to buff that portion of the tire tube or article to which the patch is to be vulcanized. It is proposed to provide a con- Venient buffing plate arrangement on the clamp for this purpose and one which can be quickly and easily moved to an idle position after the buffing has been accomplished.

A convex buffing plate 49 is secured to the end of the short arm 5B of an angle rod that has its long arm 51 slidably supported in an opening formed in a downwardly bent lug 52 cut from the horizontal arm or base H). The long arm 5| of the rod also slidably extends through an opening in a lug 53 likewise cut from the horizontal arm or base i and extending downwardly in parallel relation to the lug 52. The lug 53 at its lower end is provided with a horizontal portion 55 that has formed therein a notch 55 adapted to receive a pin 55 carried by the long arm of the rod. When the bufiing plate 49 is in the operative position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 the pin 56 is located in the notch 55 and the buffing plate and the rod are thus held in operative position against rocking movement.

When it is desired to move the bufiing plate to an idle position, i. e., the d-ash line position of Fig. 1, all that the operator need do is move the bufiing plate and the rod slightly toward the right to disengage the pin 55 from the notch 55 and thereafter to swing the bufiing plate and the rod downwardly either manually or by gravity :and then position the bufiing plate and the rod farther toward the right until the short arm 50 of the rod is contacting or substantially contacting the lug 52 at which time the buifing plate will be located in idle position beneath the vulcanizing table.

In Fig. 1 the clamping lever or arm is shown in full lines in its lowermost position at which time the forked end 21 thereof is contacting the rubber pad M of the vulcanizing table since no vulcanizing unit or tube is mounted on the table.

At this time the high point 32h of the Operating cam 32 is in engagement With the underside of the short portion of the clamping arm 23 and the Operating handle 3! is contacting the stop portion I'la of the' pivot pin l'l. It will be noted that there is a very slight flexure of the long portion of the clamping lever when theseconditions prevail.

Assuming that the clamp is to be used for vulcanizing a small size patch on a tire tube and which operation will require a small size Vulcan- 6 The'operator moves the bufier plate toward the left as viewed in the drawing from the dash line position of Fig. 1 and when it is clear of the vulcanizing table rocks the plate and rod upwardly until the buffer plate is substantially in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, Whereupon he moves the buffer plate and rod somewhat farther to the left to engage the pin 56 in the notch 55. The operator then places the tire tube S on the buifer plate and buffs the spotI to which the patch is to be vulcanized. When this has been completed the buffer plate Iand rod are moved slightly toward the right to disengage the pin 55 from the notch 55 and then are turned downwardly ,and moved completely toward the right until the bufier plate is beneath the Vulcanizing table and in the position shown in dash lines in Fig. 1. The operator now moves the Operating handle 3| to raise the clamping lever 23 to the dash line position of Fig. 1 if he has not previously done so, and at such time the underside of the short portion of the lever is in contact with the flat low portion 32a of the operating cam 32. The operator now places the tire tube Slwhich is a relatively thin and small tube on the vulcanizing table of the clamp and positions the small size vulcanizing unit on the spot where the patch 58 is to be vulcanized. He then connects the clip 4| to the tab 46 of the vulcanizing unit and if he has not already done so he inserts the plug 38 into the electrical socket of a suitable source of electric energy. I-Ie also rocks the Operating handle l toward and against the stop portion lila of the pin Ill and thus causes the high point 32h of the Operating cam 32 to be in engagement with the underside of the short portion of the clamping arm or lever, since the latter has moved downwardly from the dash line position of Fig. 1 into the full line position of Fig. 2.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 that the long portion of the clamping lever 23 and spring leaf 23a are noticeably fiexed and are pressing on the vulcanizing unit with the proper pressure for the small size vulcanizing unit and thin tire tube. As soon as the clamping lever has contacted the vulcanizing unit the secondary circuit is completed since said lever is in the secondary circuit. Therefore the electrical resistance element of the vulcanizer unit is energized to provide the heat of vulcanization and at such time the coil 43 is energized, and the signalling device 44 moves up- Wardly to signalling position.

When the vulcanizing operation is finished the operator rocks the handle 5| in a clockwise direction, as Viewed in Fig. 2, away from the stop portion Ha of the pin l'l and into a position wherein the fiat portion 32a of the Operating cam is contacting the undersid'e of the short portion of the clamping arm or lever and the latter is raised to the dash line position of Fg. 1. If the vulcanizing unit contains a fusible plug which has fused under the vulcanizing heat the secondary circuit has been interrupted before the clamping lever is raised. 'How'even if the vulcanizing unit does not include such a fusible plug then the secondary 'circuit is interrupted asI soon as the i clamping arm has been raised upwar'dly and is out of contact with the vulcanizing unit.

In Fig. 3 the tube on the vulcanizing table is a relatively thick inner tube T, such as used in motor truck tires while the vulcanizing units is similar to the unit previously descrlbed but of substantially larger size and hence greater thickness. These facts mean that the clamping lever 23 will 7 engage the vulcanizing unit at'a higher level than. it engaged the smallcr. vulcanizing unit' previously.

referred tobut. since the fulcrum. pin H is fixed.

and the high point-32h' of the op'eratingcamis. now in contact with. the und'erside of the clamping arm the long portionv of the latter'wil'l be sub-' stantially flexed; as clearly indicated' in Fig. 3,1 and-such greater flexure` Willexert the requisite additional pressure for. vulcanizingv a. large patch orvalv'e stem base to` the large tube:

In Fig. 3 instead ofa patch being vulcanizedto the tube T the. base of avalve' stem V is being vulcanized to the tube. The stem V extends'i through .the central hollow rivet of. the vulcanizing unit and the fork 21" of.` the'clamping lever straddles the stem whilethe down turned tines` 28 of the fork contact the Vulcanizing unit on. each side of the stem.

It= will be understood that should the tire tube tov which the patch is being vulcanizcd be of a size intermediate the tire tube S and tire tube T and'the vulcanizing unit be of a size between the sizes of the units shownl in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively, then When the clamp-inglever 23 is brought' intoengagement with such vulcanizing unit the. fiexure of'the' clamp .arm will be intermediate the. small fi'exure of Fig. 2 and the large flexure of Fig. 3 and hencev the clamp arm will be. exerting clamping pressure intermediate the pressure it is exerting in Figs. 2 and 3. In other Words, since the fulcrum of the clamping levei` is fixed and the high point of the cam 32 is always in contactfwith the undersldeV of the olamping arm or lever when the Operating handle is in engagement with the:

stop portion Ha of the pivot pin, Varyng pressures will be exerted on the different size Vulcanizing units byyreason of the varyingfiexures of the arm or lever and hence the. clamping' arm or lever automatically will 'exert greater or lesser pressure on the vulcanizing units in accordance with the. varying size of the units and of the tire tubes or infiatable articles to which the patchis to be vulcanized.

Thus the present'clamp provides automatically the proper and required pressures under Varying- Iconditions of operation and varyingsizes of Vulcanizing units. It will also be noted that? the operator can never cause the clamping arm or lever to exert'excessiv'e pressure on the Vulcam'zing unit since he can only move the Operating handle until it contacts the stop portionu I la.` Similarly the operator will be unable toinjure. any of the parts of the clamp by reason of improperly Operating Vthe clamp` as, for example, by applying greater pressure or force to any of the Operating parts than is actuallyrequired for the proper operation of the clamp.

It will be' understood that the clamp may be used with an electrical source such as a storage battery, in which event the transformer is not uti'lized. One lead from the battery would bel connected to the tab 45 and theother lead therefrom would be connected to some part of the clamp itself.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been ill'ustrated and described, it WillV b'e understood that the'invention is sus'ceptibleof various mOdi-fications and. adaptations Within the scope of the-appended claims.

Having thus described myinventiom I claim:

1. A Vuloanizer clamp comprising a supporting base provided with a vulcanizing tablefor receiving. the article to be vulcanized and avulcanizing unit, fulcrum means supported by said base in-V spaoed relation tosaid table, a Vflat spring levercarried by 'said'- ful'crum means; to have its broad dimension extending in the drecton off the axis' of' saidlfulcrum means and adapted to berocked? intoclamping contact with' said unit on'said--table' and having al relatively long porti'on extending fromsaid fulcrum means to a point above said table and a`` relatively short portion extending from saidfulcrum'meansin the' oppo'site' direction, andi means operatively engag'ing with thev fiatl underside: of said shortV p'ortion for rockingsaidilever to and from'contactwith said' unit;-

21 Avulcani'zerclamp asfidefinediin'claim l andv wherein the; long'portion of said lever' is'fformed'v tofihave predetermined fleXibi-lity.

31 A vulcanizer-clamp as defined in claim land wherein a portion of said lever is fiexible and`l diminishes uniformly in width to adjacentl the' outer end'off said portion.

4; A vul'canizer clamp as dened in claim 1 and wherein the means operatively associated with the shortportion of said'lever for rocking the latter comprises a` cam roclablyV supported by said base and having its periphery cooperating withthe underside of saidshort portion of the'lever' and'providedwith a high point and a'fiat low portion; and a spring operatively associated withV said level' and maintaining the short portion thereof in contact with theperiphery of said cam atlall times.

5. A'vulcanizer clamp comprising a supporting base provided with aivulcanizing table for receiving the article to be vulcanized and a vulcaniZ-ingv unit, a hous-ing carried by said base'and sp'aced from said table; av fulcrum pin mounted in said' housing, said' housing being provided with an openingV inV the sidethereof adjacent to saidtable, a fiatl spring lever rockably'carricd by said pin with its bro-ad dmension extending longi'- tudinall'yof lsaid pin and projecting outwardly of said hou'sing' through said opening and having-its outer end overlying said table 'and adapted' to beengagedwith said'vulcanizing unit thereon', said' lever from outward-ly of said openingvto adjacen-t its-outer' end varying in widthgradually and unifornrly and having predetermined fieXibi-lity, andmeans carried by' and located' within said housin'gf and op'eratively 'associated 'with the' fiat underside of 'said lever'adjacent the inner end' thereof lfor rocking'said lever to cause its 'outer end to move to and' from'contact withV said'vulcanizing unit.

6. A vulcanizer clamp a's 'defined in claim 5 and wherein a -hin'ge plate is secured to the upper sidei of saidl lever adja'cent its inner end and the eyes of said hinge-plate are rockably' supported by said fulcru-mpin, while |a rattra'p spring has its.

coil portion surrounding said fulcrum pin between the eyes of said hinge plate with one end of said spring contacting'said housing and the other end contactihg--said hinge plate, and a cam rockably'supp'orted byrsaid housing with' its periphery operatively associated with the' underside of said lever'and' provided With' a high point and a low flat portion.v

7 A Vulcanizer clamp as defined inv claim 6 and wherein said cam is fixedv on a rockable' shaft carried bysaid-housing and which shaft extends outwardly of said housing and an Operating handle is secured to the outwardly extending'end of said 'shaft 8. A vulcanizer clamp as defined in claim 6 and whercin said fu'lcrum pin'extends outward'ly of said lfousing onone side thereof while said'cam` is fixed to a -rockable' shaft supported-by said housing and extend-ing'outwardlyof said one side thereof, a handle is operatvely secured to said outwardly extending end of said shaft such that when said handle is moved to rock said shaft and cam and position the high point of the cam in contact with the underside of the lever said han- 5 dle will be engagng the outwardly extending end of said fulcrum pin.

9. A vulcanizer clarnp as defined in claim 1 and Wheren said lever comprises a lever proper and a spring leaf supermposed on said lever proper and secured thereto at one end and of gradually diminishing width from said fulcrum means to the outer end of the spring leaf.

RALPH K. BOYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATE PATENTS 

